
Music
my practice (and how i got there)
A little bit of information of what I do as a musician and how I got there.
Exploration and reinvention
As a musician I am always exploring. It’s part of my nature to choose very varying projects to work on, stick with it until it’s how I want it, then move on to something entirely different. Currently this means that I’m working with live electronics. The sounds and characters that electronic music can give are so different from the traditional repertoire, and I love the incredibly broad range this genre has.
I’m an intuitive player – I play what comes to me and if I like it, I stick to it. This goes for ‘traditional’ classical music – for as far we can speak of that in the world of classical saxophone – but especially for contemporary genres. I like to combine new saxophone music with my personal explorations into improvisational pieces (and maybe some own works).
A little more back in time...
My musical studies have been varied and haven’t always been limited to just conservatory education. In fact, I started with a Liberal Arts degree (University College Roosevelt, Middelburg) where I took courses in musicology and educational sciences, but also some computer sciences and art history (and for some reason, economics. We don’t talk about economics.)
A little more back in time? I was born in 1997 in Oost-Souburg, Zeeland, the Netherlands. When I was seven years old I started with recorder lessons, and after two years of happy squeaks I decided to switch to the saxophone. I say ‘decided’, but my mum picked saxophone for me because I literally could not distinguish a trumpet from a french horn. Luckily, it was a good choice 🙂
I took lessons at the local music school (where I teach now) and happily continued making a lot of noise on the saxophone. As a teenager I met Andreas van Zoelen, with whom I subsequently studied during my years at university, and with whom I later also did my Bachelor of Music. Currently I am broadening my musical perspectives with a Master of Music with Ties Mellema and Andreas van Zoelen.
Arrangements
Some of my projects are also available to others. Here is a small selection of arrangements that you can either buy or get for free. If you want any information on acquiring scores that don’t have a download link, drop me a message!
Saxophone orchestra
- Two Dances & Romance – Josef Ascher. Available at Baton Music. Listen here.
Originally 3 separate piano pieces, arranged into a suite.
Instrumentation: SS AAAA TT BB Bs - Prelude – Max Bruch. Contact for score and parts.
Originally for 2 piano’s, also available for symphony orchestra.
Instrumentation: SS AAAA TT BB B/Bs - Prelude in G minor – Sergei Rachmaninov. Contact for score and parts.
Performance by Fontys Saxophone Orchestra in 2019.
Saxophone Quartet & Quintet
- Etudes Tableaux, Op. 33 – Sergei Rachmaninov (several movements). Preview of 1 movement here.
Originally for piano, some movements deviate in original in structure, the link explains why.
Instrumentation: SATB - Enchanted – Taylor Swift. Purchase at SheetMusicPlus or Purchase at SheetMusicDirect
Instrumentation: SATB or AATB. Intermediate-level.
MIDI-preview:
- Summertime – George & Ida Gershwin. Purchase at SheetMusicDirect
Instrumentation: SAATB, AAATB, SATTB, or AATTB. Intermediate-level.
MIDI-preview:
Saxophone Trio
- Organ Sonate No. 4, mvt 2 – J.S. Bach. Contact for score and parts.
Originally for organ. I have 2 versions; one transcription without articulation and performance suggestions, and one with some suggested articulations.
Instrumentation: SAB - Sarabande – Francis Poulenc. Contact for score and parts.
Instrumentation: BBB
Solo saxophone
I make transcriptions for students all the time, but these arrangements are published:
- Stiekem – Maan & Goldband. Purchase for alto sax, tenor sax, Bb clarinet, or flute.
Symphony Orchestra
Prelude – Max Bruch. View score preview here. Originally for 2 piano’s, also available for saxophone orchestra.
Wind band (fanfare)
Preludes I & II – George Gershwin. View score preview here.
Jazz combo
Bernie’s Tune for small jazz ensemble – Bernie Miller. Download for free here.